Faded Ties, Rekindled Hearts

Chapter 16

After meeting Tanya, Yuvraj felt a strange sense of satisfaction. Although he hadn't gotten the answers he wanted, the encounter had left him feeling energized. The way she got so easily irritated with him, her angry expressions—it amused him. Remembering her frustration, Yuvraj laughed to himself. "Ye abhi bhi waisi hi hai... ise gussa dilana ab bhi bahut aasan hai," he thought aloud, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Kal dekhte hai school mein, mujhse bachke jayegi kya." He was already planning how to tease her the next day, knowing full well how to push her buttons.

Humming to himself, he entered his house, a spring in his step, whistling. Avantika, who was sitting in the living room, noticed his change in demeanor and raised an eyebrow. "Kya baat hai, itna khush kyu hai? Ghar se to bhut gusse mein nikla tha, ab kya ho gaya? Tanya se mil liya kya?"

Yuvraj grinned at his mother's perceptiveness. "Haan, maa, milke araha hoon," he said with a satisfied smile.

Avantika's curiosity deepened. "Accha, to phir baat hui tum dono ki?

Yuvraj smirked, not bothering to hide his amusement. "Ladke aarha hu. Kuch answers chahiye the mujhko, wo to leke hi rahunga," he said confidently, brushing off her question as he made his way towards his room. As he walked upstairs, his thoughts returned to Tanya, and a smirk spread across his face.

In his room, he closed the door, leaned against it, and thought about their next encounter. "Kal maza aayega," he murmured, looking forward to seeing her again, eager to push her just a little more and see those same angry eyes flare up.? Haan, kuch answers chahiye the mujhko, wo to leke hi rahunga," he said confidently, brushing off her question as he made his way towards his room. As he walked upstairs, his thoughts returned to Tanya, and a smirk spread across his face.

In his room, he closed the door, leaned against it, and thought about their next encounter. "Kal maza aayega," he murmured, looking forward to seeing her again, eager to push her just a little more and see those same angry eyes flare up.

Arnav and Ishita returned after their shopping trip and called Tanya into their room. She entered with a cold expression, crossing her arms. "Boliye, kya kaam tha ab mujhse?" she asked rudely, not bothering to hide her irritation.

Ishita, trying to ignore her tone, smiled warmly. "Tumhara uniform aur stationery laye hain," she said, handing over a neatly folded school uniform along with some notebooks and pens.

Tanya took the items without a word and was about to leave when Ishita called after her, "Tanya, ruko... kuch aur bhi hai."

Tanya hesitated, turning back with mild curiosity, though her expression remained guarded. Ishita, still smiling, reached into the shopping bag and pulled out a Shaka Laka Boom Boom pencil, the one from a popular cartoon series Tanya used to love as a child. For a moment, Tanya's face softened as she recalled a memory from years ago.

She had once excitedly told her mom, "Mumma, mujhe bhi chahiye ye Shaka Laka wali pencil! Main isse jo likhungi, wo sach ho jayega!"

Ishita, smiling at the memory too, said, "Tab bhi kaha tha na, beta, mumma leke degi tumhe yeh pencil." She paused, her expression tinged with a bit of sadness. "Par uske baad... Aarti aur Avni aayi, aur fir tumhe kabhi de nahi payi..."

Tanya's face hardened again as she composed herself quickly. "Mrs. Kapoor," she said, her voice cold and distant, "aap shayad bhul gayi hain, mai ab koi bacchi nahi rahi jo aise cartoon waale pencil se likhu."

Ishita's smile faltered slightly, but she kept her voice gentle. "Ek maa ke liye uska bachcha hamesha chhota hi rehta hai," she said softly. She took Tanya's hand, gently placing the pencil in it, closing her fist around it. Then, cupping Tanya's face with motherly affection, she added, "So jao ab. Kal tumhara school bhi hai. Driver uncle subah 8:30 baje aa jayenge, theek hai?"